The Power Game

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Abraham Lincoln is attributed to have said, "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.”
Lord Acton said,“Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Power Without Compassion is Distortion
Esther 3:1-4After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor. 3 Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai,“Why do you disobey the king’s command?” 4 Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.
“The greatest among you will be your servant”(Matt 23:11).
The Chinese say, “There is always a higher mountain“Above a man is another man; above a mountain is another mountain”
Power is a gift, not a game. It is a responsibility, not a right.
Power Without Control is Dangerous
Esther 3:5-6When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. 6 Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.
Apowerful person with a short fuse and a long memory is a dangerous person.
Power Without Conscience is Destructive
Esther 3:7-11In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, they cast the pur (that is, the lot) in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar. 8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes,“There is a certain people dispersed and scattered among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom whose customs are different from those of all other people and who do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will put ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury for the men who carry out this business.” 10 So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11“Keep the money,” the king said to Haman,“and do with the people as you please.”